Yu Garden, known locally in Chinese as 豫园 (Yù Yuán), is one of Shanghai’s most famous classical gardens. Created in the Ming dynasty by Pan Yunduan, it reflects the refined world of traditional Chinese garden design. Its ponds, rockeries, pavilions, carved halls, and winding paths create a carefully composed landscape of harmony, symbolism, and quiet elegance.

St. Joseph’s Church at Yangjingbang, known locally in Chinese as 洋泾浜圣若瑟堂 (Yángjīngbāng Shèng Ruòsè Táng), is a historic Catholic church in Shanghai’s Huangpu District. Founded in the 19th century, it reflects the city’s Jesuit heritage and European religious architecture. Its red-brick façade, Romanesque forms, and Gothic elements connect old Shanghai with its international Catholic community.

Gutzlaff Signal Tower, known locally in Chinese as 外滩信号台 (Wàitān Xìnhào Tái), is a historic signal tower near the Bund in Shanghai. Built in the early 20th century, it was used to display weather and navigation signals for ships on the Huangpu River. Its slender form reflects the maritime world of old Shanghai and the city’s role as a major international port.

Shanghai Club, known locally in Chinese as 上海总会 (Shànghǎi Zǒnghuì), was one of the most exclusive social clubs of old Shanghai. Built on the Bund in the early 20th century, it served the city’s British elite and foreign business community. Its grand façade, marble interiors, and famous long bar reflected the wealth, hierarchy, and colonial atmosphere of treaty-port Shanghai.

The Bund, known locally in Chinese as 外滩 (Wàitān), is Shanghai’s most famous waterfront promenade along the Huangpu River. Its historic banks, trading houses, hotels, and club buildings reflect the city’s rise as an international port in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Across the river, the skyline of Pudong creates a striking contrast between old treaty-port Shanghai and the modern metropolis.

Lujiazui, known locally in Chinese as 陆家嘴 (Lùjiāzuǐ), is Shanghai’s modern financial district on the east bank of the Huangpu River. Once an area of warehouses and farmland, it grew into a skyline of towers after the 1990s. Landmarks such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, and Jin Mao Tower reflect the city’s rapid transformation into a global metropolis.

Fuzhou Road, known locally in Chinese as 福州路 (Fúzhōu Lù), is one of Shanghai’s historic cultural streets near the Bund. In old Shanghai, it became known for bookshops, publishing houses, theatres, and entertainment venues. Its long connection with printing, literature, newspapers, and urban nightlife reflects the intellectual and commercial energy of the city.

The Customs House, known locally in Chinese as 江海关大楼 (Jiānghǎiguān Dàlóu), is one of the landmark buildings on the Bund in Shanghai. Completed in 1927, it housed the Maritime Customs Service and became a symbol of the city’s role in international trade. Its clock tower, classical façade, and riverside position reflect the power and complexity of treaty-port Shanghai.

Shaxun Building, known locally in Chinese as 沙逊大厦 (Shāxùn Dàshà) and often called Sassoon House, is one of the most famous historic buildings on the Bund. Completed in 1929 for businessman Victor Sassoon, it became a symbol of old Shanghai’s wealth and international glamour. Its Art Deco tower, green pyramidal roof, and hotel interiors reflect the city’s golden-age skyline.

Huangpu Park, known locally in Chinese as 黄浦公园 (Huángpǔ Gōngyuán), is a historic public park at the northern end of the Bund in Shanghai. Opened in the 19th century, it was the city’s first formal public garden. Its riverside position, monuments, and views over the Huangpu River connect old treaty-port Shanghai with the modern skyline of Pudong.

The Oriental Pearl Tower, known locally in Chinese as 东方明珠塔 (Dōngfāng Míngzhū Tǎ), is one of Shanghai’s most recognizable modern landmarks. Completed in 1994 in Lujiazui, it became a symbol of the city’s rapid transformation after the development of Pudong. Its futuristic spheres, slender columns, and skyline position reflect Shanghai’s ambition as a global metropolis.

Waibaidu Bridge, known locally in Chinese as 外白渡桥 (Wàibáidù Qiáo), is one of Shanghai’s most historic bridges. Completed in 1908, it crosses Suzhou Creek near the Bund and became a landmark of the city’s early modern infrastructure. Its steel truss structure, river setting, and views toward the skyline connect old treaty-port Shanghai with the modern city.

Guanglu Theater, known locally in Chinese as 光陆大戏院 (Guānglù Dàxìyuàn), was one of old Shanghai’s major entertainment venues. Opened in the early 20th century, it became associated with cinema, stage performances, and the city’s lively commercial culture. Its history reflects Shanghai’s role as a centre of modern leisure, film, and urban nightlife.